Wrench.



R. H. SHELDON.

WRENCH.

APPLICATlON FILED JUNE 2. 1915.

"Patented Apr. 25, 1916.

THE COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH co., WASHINGTON, D. c.

Eat)

nip ear rannr RUFUS HARMON' SHELDON, OF ROCK FALLS, ILLINOIS.

WRENCH.

Application filed June 2-, 1915.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, RUrUs H. SHELDON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Rock Falls, in the county of Whiteside and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Wrenches; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters and figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to pipe wrenches and has for its object to provide a wrench which is so constructed and arranged that the toothed or serrated jaws of the wrench are forced into tight and intimate engagement with a pipe, tube, rod or the like in such manner that slipping of the wrench on the element to be rotated is effectually pre vented.

A further object of the invention is to provide a wrench of this character which can be instantly adjusted to a pipe, tube, rod or the like and locked in engagement therewith in such manner that slipping of the wrench on the element to be rotated is prevented.

A further object of the invention is to provide a wrench of this character which can be employed on nuts or the like or in any capacity in which wrenches are usually applied.

With these objects in view the invention consists in the novel construction and arrangement of the wrench jaws and in the novel construction and arrangement of the lever and locking mechanism for adjusting the wrench jaws and for looking the same in position against slipping.

The invention further consists in certain other novel details of construction and in combination of parts, all of which will be first fully described and afterward specifically pointed out in the appended claims.

Referring to the accompanying drawing;

Figure 1 is a plan view of a pipe wrench constructed in accordance with this invention, and Fig. 2 is a front edge view of the same.

Like numerals of reference indicate the same parts throughout the two figures in which;

1 indicates the wrench which comprises Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 25, 1916.

Serial No. 31,714.

the main body portion 2 which is bent at right angles at 3 to form the head t to which the outer wrench jaw 5 is pivoted at 6, said jaw 5 being pivoted at a point closer to the end 7 of the head 4 than to the line of the main body portion 2 of the wrench.

8 indicates the sliding jaw carrying member which is bent at right angles at 9 to form the backing 10 for the inner pipe jaw 11, said inner pipe jaw 11 being pivoted to the backing 10 at the point 12 which point is closer to the main body portion 2 of the wrench than to the outer end 13 of the backing 10.

14 indicates a yoke secured to the sliding member 8 and encompassing the main body portion 2 of the wrench in the manner as shown in Fig. 1, this arrangement allowing for a free movement of the sliding member 8 on the main body portion 2 of the wrench, it being understood that-when the wrench is in operative position the main body por tion 2 and the sliding member 8 form the wrench handle;

Provided on the extreme inner end of the main body portion 2 of the wrench is the circular enlargement 15 which is provided around a portion of its periphery with a series of ratchet teeth 16, and centrally of the circular enlargement 15 is pivoted a le ver 17 which is also pivoted at 18 to a small enlargement 19 on the extreme inner end of the slidable member 8, the parts being so arranged that upon movement of the lever 1'? on its pivot 20 the slidable member 8 will be moved relatively to the main body portion 2 of the wrench in such manner as to cause the wrench jaws 5 and 11 to approach each other or to be separated so that the wrench jaws can be quickly adjusted to pipes, tubes, rods or the like of varying sizes and diameters.

The lever 17 is provided with an extension which forms a handle 21, and upon the handle portion 21 is pivoted at 22 a small lever 23 normally held in position shown in Fig. 1 by a spring 24-. Pivoted to the inner end of the lever 23 is a link 25 which link 25 is pivoted to a slidable pawl 26 in engagement with the'toothed periphery of the circular extension 15 on the inner end of the main body portion 2 of the wrench.

Having thus fully described the several parts of this invention its operation is as follows: When the small lever 23 is grasped together with the handle 21 and said small End lever 23 is caused to approach the handle 21 the slidable pawl 26 is drawn out of engagement with the toothed periphery of the circular enlargement 15 which allows the large lever 17 to be moved in either direction on its pivot 20 to cause the wrench jaws 5 and 11 to approach each other or to be separated as occasion may require. The jaws when in convenient position are applied to a pipe or the like and the large lever 17 is then swung on its pivot 20 to cause the inner jaw 11 to approach the pipe or the like and to grip the same rigidly between the two jaws 5 and 11. When the jaws are thus in rigid engagement with the element to be rotated the small lever 23 is allowed to assume its normal position which forces the slidable pawl 26 into engagement with one of the ratchet teeth 16 on the circular enlargement 15, thus effectually locking the slidable member 8 and its jaw 11 in efi'ective engagement with the element to be rotated in such manner that when power is applied to the handle of the wrench slipping of the jaws on the element to be rotated is effectually prevented. As will appear from the drawing the contiguous surfaces of the jaws 5 and '11 are provided with oppositely faced teeth in such manner as to cause the said jaws to bite into the element to be rotated and thus insure a positive engagement between the jaws and the element engaged.

When the wrench is applied to a pipe or other cylindrical element the said pipe or other element should be entered between the jaws as far as possible or until the same is in engagement with the main body portion 2 of the wrench. When the element to be rotated is thus in position further movement of the slidable member 8 bringing the jaws together will cause the outer jaw to swing on its pivot 6 and the inner jaw 11 to swing on its pivot 12 in such manner as to conform to the element to be rotated and to insure a rigid engagement between the jaws and the element to be rotated.

Having thus fully described the invention it is apparent that the same is capable of certain changes and modifications and I consider myself clearly entitled to all such changes as fall within the limit and scope of the appended claims.

What I c aim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is 1. A wrench of the character described comprising a main body portion, a toothed Copies of this patent may be obtained for jaw pivoted to the outer end thereof in such manner that the toothed surface of the said jaw lies substantially at ri ht angles to the main body portion of the wrench, a slidable member slidably connected to the said main body portion of the wrench, a toothed jaw pivoted to the outer end of said slidable member, the toothed surface of the said jaw facing the toothed surface of the first mentioned jaw and arranged on said slidable member in such manner as to lie substantially at right angles to the main body portion of the wrench, an enlargement formed on the inner end of the main body portion of the wrench, the portion of the periphery of said enlargement being provided with a series of ratchet teeth, a lever pivoted centrally of said enlargement and pivoted at one end to the inner end of the said slidable member, a handle portion formed on said lever. a small lever mounted on said handle portion, a pawl carrier on said small lever normally in engagement with the toothed periphery of said enlargement to lock the said lever in engagement with the said body portion of the wrench, th said lever pivoted to the main body portion of the wrench being arranged to adjust the said jaws in operative position for engagement with an element to be rotated and to lock the said jaws rigidlv in engagement with an element to be rotated, substantially as described.

2. A wrench of the character described comprising a main body portion, a slidable member slidably connected to said main body portion. a pair of toothed jaws arranged on said main body portion and on said slidable member, said jaws being provided with toothed surfaces facing each other and lying at substantially right angles to the main body portion of the wrench, a lever pivoted to the inner end of the main body portion of the wrench and pivoted to the inner end of the slidable member, means for effectingan interlocking engagement between the said lever and the said main body portion of the wrench in such manner as to maintain the said jaws in a proper operative position. substantially as described.

In testimony whereof, I aflix my signature, in presence of two witnesses.

' RUFUS HARMON SHELDON.

Witnesses:

HENRY L. SHIFFER, CLAUDE PEARL PAIGE.

five ceutseach, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington. D. G. 

